Automatic electric regulator.



J. W. JEPSON.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED mu. :1. ms.

1,197,209. PatentedSept. 5,1916.

m a g j JM/l 14/ (IE/son aw/imam a 1/ QLZM WM Q1 MW w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. JEPSON} OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

U. S. LIGHT & HEAT CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- 'rIoN OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Original application filed November 29, 1907, Serial No. 404,271. Divided and this application filed January 17, 1916. Serial No. 72,512.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN W. Jersorv, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bnlfalmin the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Electric Regw lators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic electric regulators.

The broad features of my invention are covered by my co-pending application Serial No. 104,271. filed November 29th, 1907, Automatic electric regulators, of which this application is a division.

()ne' of the objects of my invention is to provide a regulator which shall be simple in construction, stable in operation and which shall regulate within close limits.

Another object is to reduce sparking to a minimum in a regulator having vibrating short-circuiting contacts.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated diagramma-tically one embodiment of the invention.

The regulator is connected so as to regulate the voltage impressed upon the circuit 1. 2, across which translating devices 3 are connected. The translating devices may assume various forms. The regulator may, of course. be connected to regulate the field strength of a generator, or it may be connected in various other ways. The regulating medium selected for illustration is in the form of a variable pressure rheost'at 4 comprising preferably a series of resistance plates of carbon or other material. This variable pressure rheostat is connected between the translating devices and the source of electrical energy in order to suppress any tendency toward an excessive voltage which might otherwise be impressed on said translating devices. The resistance of the rheostat is varied by varying the pressure applied to one end thereof. The other end is held against a stationary abutmtnt. The movable end is engaged by the end of a bell crank lever actuated by an electromagnet or operating winding (3 which. when energized. draws up the plunger T against the action of the spring 5.

The operating winding 2 connected across the circuit 1, 2, in series with a resistance 9. Its circuit may be traced from conductor 1 to conductors 10, 11, winding 6, conductor 12 and resistance 9 to the negative conductor The operating-winding 6 is normally d'ei nergizcd, being short-circuited by a pair of separable electrodes 01'.

contacts 13 and 14, one of which is adapted preferably to vibrate rapidly to open and close a shunt circuit around said operating winding 6.. The stationary contact 13 is preferably adjustable and the movable contact 11 ismounted upon the free end of a vibratile mod 15. This reed is adapted to be set in vibration by a controlling magnet which is composed of two coils 16 and 17. The main coil 16 is prefeaiblyconnected across the circuit to be regulated between the variable pressure rheostat 4 and the translating devices so as to be subjected to the same voltage as said translating devices. The circuit of the main coil 16 extends from the positive .main 1, through conductor 10, conductor 18, coil 16, conductor 15) to the negative main 2. The modifying coil 17 is connected in parallel with the separable contacts 13 and 14 and hence is adapted to be short-circuited by said contacts when the resilient reed 1:") is in normal position and is adapted to be energized as soon as said reed .is drawn down. The coil 17 is illus trated as being connected in series with the operating winding 6 and hence is definergized when said winding is deenergized, being short-circuited by the contacts 13 and 1.4, but is energized whenever said winding is energized by the separation of said con tacts. It is apparent, however, that said coil 17 need not be connected in series with said operating winding 6 but may be connected in other relations as long as said moditving coil 17 omioses the main coil 16 when energized and hence acts di li'erentially to reduce the effectiveness of said main coil. Said coil also compensates for the varying reluct nce of the air gap between the rcsili- I the shortcircuit above referred to, thcJircuit through themodifying coil 17 may be traced as follows :from the positive main 1 through the conductor 10, conductor 11,

Operating winding 6, conductor 12, modifying coil 17, conductor 20 and resistance 9, back to the negative main 2.

The operation of the system is substantially as follows: Assuming that it is desired to maintain a given voltage upon the translating devices 3 and that the voltage of the source of electrical energy is higher than said given voltage, there will be therefore a continuous tendency for the voltage impressed upon the translating devices to rise above the desired value. The main coil 16 of the controlling magnet responds to this tendency toward higher voltage, being subjected to the same voltage as said translating devices. Consequently the increased energization of said main coil will cause the resilient reed 15 to be attracted, thereby opening the short-circuit around the operating winding 6 and the modifying coil 17 in series therewith, and permitting the energization of both these windings. As a result of the energization of the winding 6, the resistance 4 is increased, due. to the decrease in pressure applied through the bell crank lever, and as a result, the voltage will fall slightly. The coil 16 thereby tends to weaken and permit the resilient reed to spring back to short-circuiting position. This return movement is greatly assisted by the action of the modifying coil 17 which, as soon as energized, opposes the main coil 16 and tends to annul the effectiveness thereof. The resilient reed is thereby permitted to spring back more quickly than would otherwise be the case. the modifying coil 17 is that the reed will spring back upon a much less reduction in voltage of the main coil 16 than would otherwise be the case. As soon as theresilient reed is returned to initialposition, the above cycle of operation is repeated rapidly or at high frequency, the reed being kept in a state of rapid vibration. Inase much as the reed is attracted and released upon very slight variations in voltage, the fluctuations in. voltage of the translating circuit are almost imperceptible, the rise and fall in voltage being checked within very narrow limits. Due to the timelag in the operating magnet 6,- said magnet cannot attain its maximum strength the instant the short circuit is open nor fall to the minimum the instant the short circuit is closed. As a result, the energization of this magnet fluctuates within narrow limits, the mean energization of said magnet depending on the character of said vibrations.

It is understood, of course, that the above embodiment of my invention is selected for the purpose of illustration only, as other embodiments may be devised which will fall Another effect of within the scope of the invention as ex pressed in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. In an electric regulator, a main operating means, separable contacts, one of which is adapted to vibrate rapidly to ,open

erating winding, separable contacts, one of I which is adapted to vibrate rapidly to open and close a shunt circuit around said operating winding, and a controlling magnet for controlling said vibrations, said magnet comprising a main coil and an auxiliary coil, the latter being connected in series with said operating winding and acting differentially with respect to said main coil.

3. In an electric regulator, a main operating means, separable contacts, one of which is adapted to vibrate rapidly to open and close a shunt circuit around said operating means, and a controlling magnet for controlling said vibrations, said magnet comprising a main coil and an auxiliary coil connected in parallel with said separable contacts, said two coils acting differentially.

4. In an electric regulator, a regulating medium, an operating winding for the regulating medium, separable contacts adapted to open and close a shunt circuit around said winding at a rapid rate to control the mean energization thereof, a main controlling coil for said separable contacts and a modifying controlling, coil therefor, said coils acting differentially.

5. In an electric regulator, a regulating medium, an operating winding for the regulating medium, separable contacts adapted. to open and close a shunt circuit around said winding at a rapid rate to control the mean energization thereof, a main controlling coil for said separable contacts and a modifying controlling coil therefor con-- nected in series with said operating winding, said coils acting differentially.

6. In an electric regulator, a regulating medium, an operating winding for the regu lating medium, separable contacts adapted to open and close a shunt circuit around said winding at a rapid rate. to control the mean energization thereof, a main controlling coil for said separable contacts and a modifying controlling coil therefor connected in parallel with saidseparable contacts, said coils acting differentially.

7. In an electric regulator, a regulating medium adapted to be connected in the circuit to be regulated, an operating winding therefor, separable electrodesmdapted to rapidly open and close a shunt circuit around said winding to control the energization thereof and a controlling magnet for controlling the action of said separable electrodes, said controlling magnet comprising two difierentially acting coils.

8. In an electric regulator, a regulating medium adapted to be connected in the circuit to be regulated, an operating winding therefor, separable electrodes adapted to rapidl open and close a shunt circuit arount said winding to control the energization thereof and a controlling magnet for controlling the action of said separable electrodes, said controlling magnet comprising two differentially acting coils, one of which is connected in parallel with said separable contacts.

9. In an electric regulator, a regulating medium adapted to be connected in the circuit to be regulated, an operating winding therefor, separable electrodes adapted to rapidly open and' close a shunt circuit around said winding to control the energization thereof and a controlling'magnet for controlling the action of said separable elec-' trodes, said controlling magnet comprising two differentially acting coils, one of said coils being connected in series with said operating winding.

10. In an electric regulator, a regulating mediuln adapted to be connected in the circuit to be regulated, an operating winding therefor, separable electrodes adapted to rapidly open and close a shunt circuit around said winding to control the energization thereof and a controlling magnet for controlling the action of said separable elec-,

trodes. said controlling magnet comprising two differentially acting coils, one of which is connected across the circuit to be regulated and the other of which is connected in series with said operating winding around said separable contacts, whereby said last mentioned coil is energized when said operating winding is energized and short-circuited when said operating winding is short-circuited.

11. In combination, a circuit to be regulated. a variable pressure rheostat connected. in series in said circuit. an operating winding for said variablepressure rheostat, a main controlling coil controlling a shunt circuit around said operating winding and a modifying coil associated with said main coil and acting differentially with respect thereto.

12. In a system of electrical regulation. a variable pressure rheostat connected in the circuit o be regulated. an operating winding therrmr. a shunt circuit around said operating winding. separable contacts in said shunt circuit. one of which is adapted to vibrate rapidly to open and close said shunt circuit and thereby control the energization Of Said winding, a main controlling winding connected across the circuit to be regurated and adapted to control said vibrations, and

.an auxiliary coil associated with said main coil and acting ditl'erentiallyto compensate for the varying reluctance of the air gap. whereby said vibrations are accelerated.

13. A regulator for an electric circuit including a series of contacting carbon plates for varying the resistance of said circuit, a lever and a core for varying said resistance. a col'itrolling winding for operating said core and lever, and a short circuit including a relay for normallyshort-circuiting said controlling winding, said relay being adapted to open said short circuit for successive short intervals of time for regulating pur poses, said relay including a contacting de vice, a voltage coil for operating said contacting dcvice and a differential coil normally short-circuited by said contact device.

l-l. A regulator for a car lighting system including a circuit to be regulated. a variable resistance connected in series with said circuit and comprising contacting carbon plates. means for varying the pressure on said plates, said means including a solenoid, a core controlled thereby, a bell crank lever connected with said core and a relay device for controlling the energization of said solenoid. said device comprising a spring-actuated magnetic member, a contact mounted on said member, a stationary contact cooperating with said first mentioned contact to short-circuit said solenoid, a voltage coil for moving said spring-actuated member, and a differential coil normally short circuited when said solenoid is short-eircuited and energized when said solenoid is energized to oppose said voltage coil and accelerate the return movement of said spring-actuated member to again short-circuit said solenoid and differential coil whereby a rapid vibration of said spring actuated member i effected.

15. A regulator for a car lighting system including a .circuit to be regulated, a variable resistance responsive to pressure in scries with said circuit. a solenoid for controlling said variable rcsistance, a short-circuit ing device adapted to vibrate. rapidly for varying the energization of said solenoid, a voltage responsive coil for causing said vibrations whereby, upon increase of voltage, an increased current is permitted to energize said solenoid for successively longer interals of time for magnifying the effect of said voltage increase, and means for accelerating said vibrations, said last means including a coil connected in a circuit across the contacts of said short-circuiting device.

16. An automatic electric regulator having an operating winding, means arranged in a shunt circuit around said winding for varying the amount of current diverted around the same to vary the 'encrgization thereof, and auxiliary means for causing said first means to res 0nd to very minute variations in impresse voltage to increase the sensitiveness of the regulator, said last means including a coil in a circuit in shunt to said first mentioned means.

17 A regulator including a variable pressure rheostat, a controlling solenoid for said rheostat, and a short circuit including a vibrating relay device for normally short-circuiting said solenoid, said relay being adapted to open said short circuit intermittently for regulating purposes, said relay being responsive to variations in voltage and including a contact device, a voltage coil for operating said contact device, and a diflerential coil connected in series with said controlling solenoid and normally short-circuited by said contact device.

18. A regulator comprising carbon plates arranged to form part of an electric circuit, a lever connected to a movable core for varying the pressure on the series of plates to vary the resistance of the circuit, a controlling winding for operating said core, and a short circuit including a relay device for normally shortcircuiting said Winding said relay device being adapted to open said short circuit at rapid intervals for regulating purposes, said relay being responsive to voltage rise on said circuit and including a contact device, a voltage coil for operating the contact device and a differential coil connected in series to said Winding and normally short-circuited by said contact device.

19. A car lighting system including, in combination, a translation circuit, a variable pressure rheostat, connected in series with said circuit, means for varying the resistance of said rheostat, said means including an electroniagnetic Winding connected across said circuit and short-circuiting means for varying the strength of said winding, said means including acontact make and break device, a voltage responsive coil for rapidly vibrating said make and break dcvice, and an auxiliary coil for opposing said voltage coil under certain conditions to accelerate the vibrations, said auxiliary coil being short-circuited when said winding is short-circuited.

20. A circuit, and means for regulating said circuit, said means including an operating coil, means for controlling the energization of said coil, said controlling means including a second coil operating responsive to varying conditions in the circuit to be regulated to increase or decrease the energi- Zation of said first coil, and means for in creasing the effectiveness of said last coil during the time it is decreasing the energization of said first coil and for decreasing the effectiveness thereof during the time it is increasing the energization of said coil, said last means including a coil adapted to be short-circuited during the period When the effectiveness of the first coil is a minimum.

21. In combination, a translation circuit to be regulated, a compressible resistance rheostat in series in said circuit, a coil for operating said rheostat, a vibrating member including a contact for regulating the current in said coil, a coil for operating said member and contact, responsive to voltage variations of the circuit, a second contact cooperating with said vibrating contact, and a coil for decreasing the attractive force on said member when it is attracted by said attracting coil, said last mentioned coil being connected in a shunt circuit around said contacts.

22. In an electric regulator, in combination with a variable resistance adapted to be connected in the circuit to be regulated, an operating winding for controlling said re sistance, a shunt circuit around said operating Winding, contacts in said shunt circuit normally in contact, one of which is adapted to vibrate rapidly to open and close said shunt circuit at. a rapid rate, a controlling Winding for causing said vibrations, and an auxiliary coil connected in a circuit across said contacts for accelerating said vibrations.

23. An automatic electric regulator comprising a variable resistance, an electromagnetic Winding for varying said resistance, a resistance in series with said Winding, a voltage responsive relay for short-circuiting said winding at a rapid rate, without short-circuiting the second mentioned resistance, and an auxiliary coil connected in a circuit across the contacts of said relay for accelerating said vibrations.

24. In combination, a translation circuit to be regulated, a compressible resistance rheostat in series in said. circuit, a coil for operating said rheostat, a vibratile reed armature and cooperating contactfor regulating the current in said coil, a coil for attracting said armature responsive to voltage variations of the circuit and a coil for decreasing the attractive force on said armature when it is attracted by said attracting coil. v

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN WV. JEPSON. 

